Westview grad Erik Hurtado hoping to impress before MLS SuperDraft

View full sizeWestview graduate Erik Hurtado chases down a ball during day-one competition Friday of the MLS Player Combine at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderdale, Fla.Andy Mead / MLSsoccer.com

It's only five days.

But for Erik Hurtado, they could be the most important five days of his life.

The 2009 Westview graduate, who recently completed his senior season with the Santa Clara University men's soccer team, has spent the past five days trying to impress at the MLS Player Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Every head-turning run at the goal, every defender vanquished, every physical test passed with flying colors, Hurtado -- who has also spent the past two years as a member of the Portland Timbers U-23 developmental team -- takes one step closer to realizing his dream of becoming a professional soccer player.

"It's definitely amazing," Hurtado said via phone from Florida after playing in his first player evaluation match Friday afternoon at the Central Broward Regional Park. "I'm just so blessed to have this opportunity, to play with the best players across the country. I'm just excited to go forward and showcase my skills."

Hurtado took with him some hefty credentials as one of 72 players invited to the combine, completing his final season at Santa Clara as one of the school's most accomplished players. The explosive forward was named West Coast Conference Player of the Year after leading the Broncos with 15 goals and seven assists last fall.

He finished his career at Santa Clara ranked third all-time with 33 goals and 86 points.

But all that is reset heading into Thursday's MLS SuperDraft.

"I'm just going to do my best," Hurtado said. "I feel like if I showcase and play my best I'll be toward the top of the draft in the first round."

Hurtado impressed with his signature speed and athleticism, teaming up with Timbers U-23 teammate Emery Welshman, who played at Oregon State, as a member of the team adiZero, which won its games Friday and Sunday. The five-day event will feature games, physical evaluations and player interviews with clubs.

MLSsoccer.com has Hurtado ranked as the seventh best forward in the draft and projects he could be selected in the late first or early second round. But Hurtado said he feels he hasn't received the respect he deserves, playing on the West Coast and in the WCC, which he calls "underrated."

He said he's hoping to impress some teams that haven't seen what he's capable of.

"I definitely have the opportunity to impress some teams that haven't seen me before," he said. "I play on the West Coast and in the WCC. It's a great conference, but I don't think we get the respect we deserve and I don't think a lot of coaches watch that conference. So it's good to be out there and playing in front of coaches who haven't seen me before. I'm just going to be me and hope I impress."

Hurtado said a lot of teams view him as a winger, owing to his speed. But he said he's willing to play any position, from an attacking midfielder to a target forward if it means getting a chance to play on the biggest stage in North America.

"My speed, on and off the ball, my one-v-one skills, and my nose for the goal are my best qualities," Hurtado said. "I love going to goal whenever I get the opportunity, whether it's in the 18, the final third or even midfield. If I get the opportunity to make a run at the defense from half-field I'll take it. Any opportunity I see to go to the goal, I'm going to take it."

And if that happens to be close to home, where Hurtado led Westview to the 2008 Class 6A state championship, with the Timbers, Seattle Sounders or Vancouver Whitecaps, all the better, he said. Currently, the Timbers don't have a pick in the draft, but Hurtado said he spoke with Vancouver prior to the combine.

"That would be cool," Hurtado said. "It would be really nice to play in my hometown or Vancouver, which is close to home. But really when it comes down to it I just want the opportunity to play at the next level. Anywhere I go I'm going to be happy."

The Timbers tried to sign Hurtado to a Homegrown Player contract, due to his time in the club's academy, but the request was denied by MLS. And even though the Timbers don't currently own a draft pick, there is a contingent from the team in Florida led by general manager Gavin Wilkinson and new head coach Caleb Porter. And they haven't forgotten about Hurtado.

"We've talked a lot about him," Porter said. "We don't have a pick at this point and can't pick anybody. But he's a handful, athletic, strong powerful. He definitely creates problems with how explosive he is. He's certainly very sought after."

Hurtado said he's more excited than nervous with the entire experience, which will have a huge impact on the future of his professional career. And as the combine concludes today and in the days before he hears his name in the draft, Hurtado is hoping his talent will ultimately decide his fate.